Salsa Lessons in Medellin or New York

droble77 says on Dec 31, 2007, 11:19:

Mitch, can't speak for MDE but there's plenty of salsa teachers in the NYC area, it depends where you live or work, to figure out what's most convenient for you. The problem is that many NYC teachers teach a style or timing known as "on two" which will not help you in Colombia. I would say most Colombian salseros dance "on one" If you're good, you can switch timings easily but most people tend to prefer one timing over the other. If you're absolutely a newbie to salsa dancing, I would say try to learn "on one" so that the time you spend practicing and learning in NYC won't feel like it was a waste. . .

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MitchAlvarez says on Dec 31, 2007, 16:33:

droble im not a beginner. i know the nyc style of dancing that is reffered to as on 2. its not my preference. my family is from colombia and although i speak the language well and have lived in medellin i cant dance the colombian style at all. not the cali style im not interested in that crazy fast way. more the way people dance salsa in medellin, armenia, pereira, and manizales.

thanks for whatever help you can provide me with.

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droble77 says on Dec 31, 2007, 20:37:

Mitch, I'm not Colombian and I live in downtown Manhattan so I wouldn't know too much about local teachers giving classes in "antioqueño-style" salsa. :) Maybe there's a Colombian guy in Queens or Jersey teaching that style but I wouldn't know. . . probably best to take some lessons when you're down there, or get a girlfriend [or two ;) ] to help you learn, or just observe how the locals do it. You can learn a lot if you know how to watch carefully.

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E-Man says on Jan 1, 2008, 06:23:

Mitch, I have danced with women from Cali, Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin when I was in Colombia. I think that droble 77 is correct. In Colombia they mostly dance on the 1 (beat) and use very basic steps. Even in Cali the majority of people (not counting performers) dance that way. Since you already know how to dance NY style you should be able to pickup their style by watching or having a women in Colombia or NY teach you. I dance LA style (on 1) which is a slot style like NY salsa. By watching and dancing with Colombians I noticed the following generalities:

1) At times they dance in a slot or in linear fashion but not very much. If they do dance in a linear fashion it is more with a basic salsa step with the left foot on the 1 beat. They don't do cross body leads (move bringing your partner to face the other side in this slot) that you see in NY, LA, PR and Cuban styles salsa.
2) Very few or no turns (vueltas). If there are turns it is more like the turns you see in cumbia which are half turns. I noticed that many women don't like doing many intricate moves or turns since it would ruin the women's hair and makeup and dancing is not about the moves or patterns.
3) They usually dance in a closed position versus an open position
4) Think more basic and many use very small cumbia steps with more emphasis on lower body movement versus the intricate patterns we use in our styles.
5) In LA and NY style we dance with a (slow portion) (quick, quick, slow). Some people there dance with a touch step in the place where we typically have the slow portion so it feels like there is no slow in their dancing.
6) Keep it very simple and more romantic (especially if you are dancing with a Novia) . I noticed generally the people dance very close together, no turns and their footwork moves to the accents of the instruments. The videos on youtube typically show the performers and that is not how most Colombians dance.

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MitchAlvarez says on Jan 2, 2008, 08:01:

Great stuff Eman. I agree with all of it. Im just having some minor issues getting all the foot work down. Plus a lot of knee work is involved too lol.

thanks

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rhydewithdis (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 2, 2008, 12:40:

In Jackson Heights, Queens, here is one recommendation: http://www.mambobravo.com/

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

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E-Man says on Jan 2, 2008, 22:34:

Hey Mitch,

Here are some Youtube videos showing some footwork. You can also enjoy watching the girls dance. You can see the basic cumbia step with a kick on the 4th count and the constant bent knees when doing the steps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJz3_URVL2k

Here is a clip of man doing some nice Colombian Freestyle dancing. It looks like it's from the 1980s. He actually does the moonwalk. In the background you can see a couple dance closely doing side to side cumbia steps which I have also seen very commonly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVxKyB-qUzs

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coffee beaner says on Jan 2, 2008, 23:17:

F at ck all that shit, do what I did Mitch... go clubbing in Medellin and tell girls you don't know how to dance salsa because your from Bucaramanga or Manizales and they will teach you bro, thats how I learned how to dance Medallo salsa... I didn't even know how to dance any salsa before going to Colombia!
Hit up Oro Solido in La 70 or Sarao going towards La 80 and ask a girl to dance and tell them that. Don't say Pereira or Bogota... (sordo's and rolos) not a good thing in Medallo mijo!

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MitchAlvarez says on Jan 3, 2008, 15:42:

cofeebeaner when you went back to colombia? how long ago?

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MitchAlvarez says on Jan 3, 2008, 16:05:

Eman your great help man. just one thing those videos are more cali salsa style.
i was at a paisa party last night. they dance way different.

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deetee says on Jan 11, 2008, 00:29:

I am planning to go to Cartagena for a spanish intensive course in May. I also love Salsa and want to perfect my style. I love the Cuban street/Casino style. Do they dance to this in Cartagena? If not, are there instructors there? From everything I've heard of on this site, I'll be starved for quality Salsa. Please tell me that it is not true. Also I'm being black, will I encounter any racism from the locals? How friendly are the people in the clubs?

Thanks.

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